NFL Analysis
3/15/23
2 min read
Patriots Agree to Deal With Wide Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster
The New England Patriots agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract with former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Wednesday, ESPN reported. Smith-Schuster will earn $22.5 million during the first two years of the deal.
Smith-Schuster took to Twitter to celebrate the news.
Excited for my next chapter in New England! I will give this organization everything I have, thank you for believing in me! 🙏🏾🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/EwOxy7L7yz
— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) March 15, 2023
This signing comes after the Patriots' top receiver from last season, Jakobi Meyers, signed a three-year, $33 million deal, including $21 million guaranteed, with the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday.
Smith-Schuster profiles as an instant replacement for Meyers in the slot. Smith-Schuster took 54.4 percent of his reps from the slot last season, but he took 78.9 percent of his reps in the slot for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. He recorded 933 yards in 2022, his highest output since 2018 when he racked up 1,423 yards receiving.
New England's offense struggled for much of last season, with quarterback Mac Jones throwing for just 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The Patriots' offense finished 20th in passing yards per game and 17th in points per game.
After not having an offensive coordinator last season, the team hired Bill O'Brien to take over its offense, making Smith-Schuster O'Brien's first high-profile addition.
On the flip side, the Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are losing a player that helped them win the Super Bowl this past season. Smith-Schuster was the only Chiefs wide receiver to have more than three catches in the Super Bowl, as he finished with seven receptions for 53 yards and drew the game-clinching holding penalty.
